'!Xmerican  Doorb  of  Commissioners  for  i^oriign 


Xllissions. 


CHINA. 

I.  CLAIMS  UPON  CHRISTIANS  IN  AMERICA, 
n.  SOCIAL  CONDITION, 
m.  OPENINGS  FOR  CHRISTIAN  EFFORT. 

IV.  CHANGES  IN  CHINA. 

V.  AHSSIONARY  STATISTICS. 

VI.  OUR  WORK. 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  AMERICAN  BOARD, 
Missionaky  House,  33  Pemberton  Square, 

1 867. 


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CHINA. 


CLAIMS  UPOX  CHRISTIANS  IN  AMERICA  * 

BY  SECRETARY  TREAT. 

The  Prudential  Committee  are  constrained  to  ask  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Board  to  a country  which  makes  a stronger  appeal 
to  its  sympathies  than  any  other.  Of  the  five  great  missionary 
fields,  four  are  receiving  a culture  in  some  measure  proportionate 
to  their  wants.  But  the  land  which  lies  farthest  from  us  as  we 
turn  to  tlie  east,  and  nearest  to  us  as  we  turn  to  the  west,  is  com- 
paratively unsupplied.  With  one  half  of  the  pagan  world,  it  has 
scarcely  one  fifteenth  of  the  missionary  force. 

If  we  look  at  the  empire  of  China  as  a whole,  we  find  it,  with 
one  exception,  the  largest  which  has  ever  existed.  Its  position, 
moreover,  is  singularly  felicitous.  Lying  on  the  eastern  slope  of 
the  great  plateau  of  Central  Asia,  and  for  this  reason  ever  looking 
toward  the  Pacific,  it  has  resources  of  inconceivable  diversity  and 
richness.  Embracing,  as  it  does,  thirty-eight  degrees  of  latitude 
and  seventy-four  degrees  of  longitude,  occupying  every  conceiv- 
able altitude  from  the  sea-line  to  the  snow-line,  its  soil  has  yielded 
for  ages  whatever  is  needful,  whether  for  the  comfort  or  the  lux- 
ury of  man.  On  the  other  hand,  with  a single  river  that  bears 
upon  its  bosom  the  commerce  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  mill- 
ions; with  a canal,  finished  before  the  birth  of  Columbus,  and  yet 
twice  as  long  as  the  one  which  some  of  us  have  crossed  so  fre- 
quently on  our  way  hither ; with  a coast-line  thousands  of  miles 
in  length,  — it  has  advantages  for  traffic  with  other  lands  almost 
without  a parallel. 

It  was  to  be  expected  that  such  a country  would  teem  with 
rational  life.  But  the  reality  has  transcended  the  boldest  thought 
of  earlier  times.  A recent  work  of  high  authority  makes  the  popula- 
tion of  the  empire  500,000,000.  The  common  estimate  for  China 
Proper,  as  it  is  called,  is  400,000,000  ; so  that  a country  smaller 
than  the  United  States  is  to  be  accounted  ten  times  as  populous. 

* A paper  presented  in  behalf  of  the  Prudential  Committee  to  the  Ameri- 
can Board  at  Buffalo,  Sept.  1867. 


2 


THE  CLAIMS  OF  CHINA 


It  becomes  a question  of  the  gravest  import,  “ Wliat  is  the  spir- 
itual condition  of  these  hundreds  of  millions  ? ” Dwelling  among 
these  highlands  and  lowlands,  looking  out  upon  this  peerless  sea, 
surrounded  by  the  amplest  proofs  of  an  infinite  and  loving  pres- 
ence, and  hearing  such  constant  calls  to  every  noble  and  reverent 
feeling,  — surely  they  ought  to  have  reached  the  highest  style  of 
human  excellence.  What  is  the  fact  ? 

Development  there  has  been,  in  certain  directions  surprising 
development ; and  we  discover  also  a strange  tenacity  of  life.  Be- 
fore the  founding  of  Rome,  prior  to  the  first  monarchs  of  Israel, 
China  had  attained  to  the  dignity  of  a settled  State ; not,  indeed, 
with  its  present  greatness,  but  with  all  the  germs  of  that  great- 
ness. Not  only  has  she  grown  as  other  States  have  grown ; that 
which  shortened  other  histories  has  lengthened  hers.  “ She  has 
spread,”  says  Medhurst,  “ not  by  conquering,  but  by  being  con- 
quered.” And  there  has  been,  moreover,  something  higher  and 
nobler  than  barbaric  force.  Long  ago  there  was  steady,  patient 
industry, — attested,  for  example,  by  the  Great  Wall,  hoary 
through  the  lapse  of  twenty  centuries,  but  to-day  the  mightiest 
defensive  structure  in  the  world;  a rare  capacity  for  organization, 
— attested  by  its  marvelous  system  of  government ; an  open  eye 
for  the  phenomena  of  nature,  — hence  the  mariner’s  compass; 
wonderful  aptitude  for  useful  discovery, — hence  the  art  of  print- 
ing,  gunpowder,  porcelain,  known  first  in  the  Orient,  and  then 
loaned  to  the  Occident.  In  the  days  of  Alfred  the  Great  this  re- 
mote country,  in  mere  civilization,  took  precedence  of  all  others. 
And  much  further  back,  when  the  old  Britons  were  simply  unclad 
savages,  “ the  very  plebeians  of  China  were  clothed  in  silk.” 

But  this  civilization  has  always  been  a heathen  civilization. 
Upon  the  entire  edifice,  from  ton-stone,  to  foundation-stone,  we 
must  write,  “Alienated  from  the  life  of  God.”  In  truth,  we 
might  almost  affirm  that,  in  the  first  chapter  of  Romans,  the 
Apostle  to  the  Gentiles,  as  God’s  seer,  had  these  hundreds  of 
millions  directly  before  him.  No  sun-picture  of  yesterday  is  truer 
to  the  life.  It  is  for  such  a people,  so  sinful,  so  needy,  that  the 
Prudential  Committee  ask  the  gospel  of  Christ. 

They  will  first  adduce  certain  arguments  which  appeal  to  the 
friends  of  missions  everywhere. 

1.  They  must  be  allowed  to  make  a more  distinct  reference  to 
the  immense  number  to  he  saved.  Let  us  assume  400,000,000  as 
the  population  of  the  empire ; and  let  us  suppose  them  to  pass 


UPON  CHRISTIANS  IN  AMERICA. 


3 


before  us,  say  five  abreast,  at  the  pace  of  one  mile  an  hour. 
From  morning  to  night,  from  night  to  morning,  the  ear  is  bur- 
dened by  their  heavy,  incessant  tread.  Who  now  will  stand,  and 
wait  till  the  last  detachment  shall  have  marched  by  ? A pro- 
cession of  a few  thousands  becomes  to  the  spectator,  not  unfre- 
quently,  a painful  weariness.  But  these  dusky  forms,  these  chil- 
dren of  dark  hearts,  will  consume  seven  years  in  defiling  before 
us,  a long,  unresting  funeral  train  ! We  are  awe-struck  and  con- 
founded,— myriads  upon  myriads,  millions  upon  millions,  all  jour- 
neying like  ourselves  to  the  judgment-seat,  and  all  ignorant  of  the 
way  of  life ! 

2.  Another  argument  is  the  divine  interposition  in  behalf  of 
China.  When  the  hearts  of  Christians  first  yearned  for  the  re- 
demption of  this  land,  it  rose  before  them  like  a strongly  guarded 
fortress,  the  Ehrenbreitstein  of  heathenism.  Barriers  which  are 
formidable  everywhere,  were  found  compacted  and  strengthened 
here  with  amazing  skill.  Morrison  went  forth,  sixty  years  ago, 
the  forlorn  hope  of  evangelism.  Others  joined  him,  among  them 
our  own  missionaries;  but  prior  to  1842,  thej'  could  only  exclaim, 
“How  long,  O Lord,  how  long!”  Then,  however,  “ He  that  is 
glorious  in  his  apparel,  traveling  in  the  greatness  of  his  strength,” 
came  forth  from  his  place ; and  his  own  arm  brought  salvation 
unto  him.  In  the  exercise  of  his  high  prerogative  as  King  of 
kings  he  caused  the  wrath  of  man  to  praise  him ; and  the  red 
hand  of  war  was  permitted  to  unbar  the  two-leaved  gates.  Slowly 
and  heavily,  with  manifold  obstructions  and  delays,  they  turned 
back  upon  their  rusty  hinges ; and  now  we  are  told  that  the  whole 
empire  is  open  to  the  heralds  of  the  cross.  “ This  is  the  Lord’s 
doing,  and  it  is  marvelous  in  our  eyes  ! ” 

3.  The  signal  success  which  may  be  anticipated,  is  another  argu- 
ment Many  have  regarded  China  as  an  exceedingly  difficult,  if 
not  an  altogether  unhopeful  field,  partly  because  of  its  religion, 
and  partly  because  of  its  extent.  But  Hindooism  is  worse  to 
grapple  with  than  Boodhism ; Islamism  is  worse ; and  yet  both  are 
to  be  swept  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
magnitude  of  the  work  may  become  itself  a ground  of  hope.  As 
the  land  of  Sinim,  in  the  counsels  of  the  Father,  is  made  sure  to 
Christ,  we  have  a right  to  expect  unwonted  displays  of  his  power, 
— Pentecostal  seasons  that  shall  affect  entire  provinces.  What 
has  lately  taken  place  upon  a small  scale,  may  take  place,  at  no 
distant  day,  upon  a much  larger  scale.  Let  us  not  be  faithless, 
but  believing. 


4 


THE  CLAIMS  OF  CHINA 


4.  The  hazard  of  delay  should  not  be  overlooked.  This  is  two- 
fold. (1.)  It  is  quite  possible,  to  say  the  least,  that  political 
changes  may  cirrest,  or  at  any  rate  retard,  the  labors  of  mission- 
aries. For  such  a land  there  is  not,  there  cannot  be,  permanent 
repose.  (2.)  The  Man  of  Sin  is  there,  and  will  be  there,  whoever 
else  shall  be  absent.  His  concern  for  the  Chinese  began  far  back 
in  the  past.  Five  hundred  and  sixty  years  ago  he  placed  an 
Archbishop  at  Peking,  with  seven  suffragans.  Though  the  door 
seemed  to  be  shut  against  him  for  a time,  his  labors  for  the  last 
three  hundred  years  have  scarcely  been  suspended.  The  ex- 
tremes! threats  have  been  made  and  executed ; but  they  have 
only  verified  the  maxim,  “ Rome  never  yields.”  The  prize  is 
great,  even  the  conquest  of  one  third  of  our  race ; and  the  sacri- 
fices made  to  gain  it  will  be  great.  Recently  an  extraordinary 
zeal  has  been  manifested.  “ The  activity  of  the  Romish  Church 
in  China,”  says  Sir  John  Davis,  “ has  no  rival  as  to  either  num- 
bers or  enterprise.”  Such  a record,  in  coming  years,  ought  to  be 
simply  impossible. 

But  there  are  arguments  which  address  themselves  with  pecul- 
iar force  to  Christians  in  America. 

1.  The  physical  characteristics  of  our  country  fit  us  for  great 
missionary  undertakings.  Lands,  like  races,  are  created  for  defi- 
nite ends.  Greece  and  Italy,  in  ancient  times,  England  and  Hol- 
land, in  modern  times,  were  commissioned  to  evolve,  as  well  an 
outward  as  an  inward  life.  The  sea  was  to  give  them  wealth  at 
home  and  empire  abroad.  Our  father-land,  especially,  with  its 
dexterous  enterprise  and  its  sturdy  Protestantism,  was  to  illus- 
trate the  priceless  value  of  its  sea-girt  home. 

But  what  other  nation  has  such  power  of  self-projection  as  our 
own  ? We  have,  on  the  one  hand,  a material  prosperity  which 
will  suffice  for  the  largest  achievements,  and  we  have,  on  the 
other,  the  readiest  and  broadest  theatre  therefor.  This  home  of 
ours,  so  far  removed  from  the  jostlings  and  entanglements  of  Eu- 
ropean life,  and  yet  so  central  withal,  God  has  given  to  us  for  this 
very  end,  that  we  may  go  forth  to  the  bays  and  harbors  and  rivers 
of  other  lands,  and  preach  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ. 

2.  The  annals  of  our  country  point  to  great  missionary  under- 
takings. Columbus  had  scarcely  opened  the  new  world  to  the  old, 
when  Luther  burned  the  Pope’s  bull  at  Wittenberg,  thereby  lift- 
ing his  stalwart  arm  against  the  despotism  of  Rome.  But  the 
blow  was  worth  more  to  Britain  than  to  Germany,  more  to  Amer- 


UPON  CHRISTIANS  IN  AMERICA. 


5 


ica  than  to  Britain.  Just  a hundred  years  later,  — English 
Puritanism  having  reached  its  opening  manhood,  — the  Pilgrims 
stepped  forth  upon  Plymouth  Rock.  Then  commenced  a strug- 
gle, eventful  for  this  land,  eventful  for  all  lands.  “ Shall  this 
feeble  band,  with  such  as  may  follow  from  time  to  time,  conquer 
the  difficulties  which  lie  in  their  path,  or  must  they  finally  suc- 
cumb y ” For  a century  and  two  thirds,  in  one  form  or  another, 
the  conflict  went  forward.  At  the  end,  however,  forests  had  been 
leveled ; churches  had  been  built ; the  institutions  needful  for  a 
young  State  had  been  founded ; independence  had  been  won. 
And  it  deserves  our  especial  notice,  that  the  new  life  which  began 
to  quicken  our  nation,  when  these  United  States  had  become, 
strictly  and  truly,  one  and  inseparable,  synchronized  perfectly 
with  the  commencement  of  modern  missions.  Soon  the  era  of  re- 
vivals followed,  and  in  due  time  the  era  of  American  missions. 
Afterward,  just  as  fast  as  God  was  pleased  to  open  the  pagan 
world  to  the  gospel  of  his  Son,  just  so  fast  did  he  give  us  the  abil- 
ity to  preach  that  gospel.  Why  was  it,  except  to  teach  us,  in  lan- 
guage that  we  could  not  misunderstand,  the  divinely-appointed 
uses  of  our  prosperity  ? And  that  old  objection,  “ The  home 
work  and  the  foreign  work  are  too  much  for  us,”  — how  suddenly 
and  completely  has  he  swept  it  away  ! By  that  war  which  has 
just  closed,  he  has  taught  us  that  whatever  we  wish  to  accom- 
plish, we  can  accomplish.  Doing  great  things  for  the  heathen, 
therefore,  has  ceased  to  be  a question  of  power  ; henceforth  it  is 
simply  a question  of  will. 

3.  China  has  become  our  western  neighbor.  When  we  first 
turned  to  the  farthest  Orient,  as  a possible  field  for  our  efforts, 
we  were  obliged  to  look  across  the  entire  eastern  continent. 
The  land  of  Sinim  was  to  us  the  “ Ultima  Thule.”  But  no  sooner 
did  it  begin  to  surrender  its  policy  of  isolation,  than  our  relations 
to  it  began  to  change ; as  if  God  had  sealed  up  its  gates  till  we 
should  be  ready  to  enter  them.  Five  years  from  the  treaty  of 
Nanking,  California  was  ours.  At  that  date,  however,  San  Fran- 
ciseo  was  farther  from  us,  praetically,  than  Canton ; and  hence 
the  iron-track  crossed  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  eight  years  later, 
making  the  time  to  the  Golden  Gate  only  three  weeks.  But 
there  remained  still  a long  voyage  to  China,  and  few  ships  were 
sailing  thither.  Hence  it  has  come  to  pass,  since  we  met  at  Pitts- 
field one  year  ago,  that  a line  of  steamers  has  undertaken  to 
bridge  the  Great  Sea ; and  a missionary  brother,  who  left  New 


6 


THE  CLAIMS  OF  CHINA 


York  on  the  10th  of  August,  is  now,  we  ina}’  hope,  drawing  near 
to  the  land  of  his  adoption.  In  a very  short  time,  we  shall  hear 
of  unresting  railway  trains  passing  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pa- 
cific, and  then  a single  month  will  take  a reinforcement  from 
Massachusetts  Bay  to  Shanghai.  Who  can  fail  to  interpret  this 
rapid  march  of  events  V Surely  the  God  of  missions  has  brought 
this  empire,  so  populous,  so  idolatrous,  nearer  and  nearer,  that 
we  may  accept  the  field  which  he  has  assigned  us. 

4.  As  China  is  destined  to  enrich  tis  with  her  commerce,  it  be- 
comes us,  as  a Christian  people,  to  enrich  her  with  the  words  of 
eternal  life.  The  best  which  she  can  give,  she  will  pour  into 
our  lap  with, ever-increasing  profusion.  Be  it  ours  to  say  to  her, 
“ Silver  and  gold  have  we ; and  you  shall  receive  them  from  us 
with  no  stinted  measure.  But  such  things  perish  with  the  using. 
Better  than  all  else,  we  offer  you  treasure  in  heaven.”  This  were 
an  interchange  of  values  worthy  of  the  name  which  we  bear, — 
carnal  things  received,  spiritual  things  given  in  return.  It  would 
do  something,  moreover,  to  repair  the  wrongs  which  the  greed  of 
wealth  has  inflicted  upon  the  Chinese.  For  hundreds  of  years 
men  have  gone  to  their  shores  eager  for  gain  ; but  too  many  have 
left,  for  the  dollars  which  they  made,  the  vices  which  were  their 
shame. 

5.  In  evangelizing  China,  we  shall  do  much  to  raise  our  coun- 
try to  the  proper  level  of  a Christian  State.  If  we  compare  the 
life  of  any  consistent  believer  with  what  may  be  called  the  life  of 
any  existent  nation,  the  contrast  will  fill  our  hearts  with  sadness. 
What  the  former  would  scorn  to  do,  the  latter,  perhaps,  will  not 
scruple  to  do.  Many  an  Englishman  has  blushed  for  the  opium 
war.  Many  an  American  htis  blushed  for  the  injustice  done  to 
the  red  man ; and  we  hang  our  heads  to-daj’,  because  the  times 
of  this  costly  wrong-doing  still  linger.  Hence  it  should  be  our 
constant  aim  to  bring  the  life  of  the  State  into  harmony  with  that 
of  the  individual,  so  that  whatever  dishonors  a man,  shall  be  im- 
possible for  a people.  To  efiect  this,  however,  our  churches  need 
to  be  clothed  with  power  from  on  high.  How  shall  they  secure 
the  blessing  ? 

Let  us  suppose  them  to  resolve,  humbly,  prayerfully,  “ Accord- 
ing to  the  ability  which  the  Lord  has  given  us,  we  will  send  the 
gospel  to  China.”  It  is  an  honest  purpose  ; it  is  faithfully  kept. 
Every  steamer  that  crosses  the  Pacific  is  freighted  in  part  with 
missionaries.  Those  who  remain  behind,  account  themselves  sim- 


Ui’OX  CHRISTIANS  IN  AMERICA. 


ply  home-partners  ; and  so  their  alms  and  their  hearts  are  always 
going  forth  to  the  common  work.  Wherever  the  glad  tidings  are 
preached,  therefore,  whether  in  the  temples  of  Boodh  or  the 
dwellings  of  the  poor,  whether  on  the  shore  of  the  sea  or  far  back 
among  the  mountains,  they  become  the  power  of  God  unto  sal- 
vation. Converts  are  multiplied  as  the  drops  of  the  morning; 
and  in  the  fullness  of  their  young,  joyous  life,  they  turn  to  us  and 
invoke  the  divine  benediction  upon  us. 

Here  then  we  have  three  elements  of  power:  (1.)  The  pleas- 
ure which  Christ  takes  in  those  who  honestly  obey  his  last  com- 
mand. (2.)  The  resulting  effect  of  a noble  and  generous  en- 
deavor. (3.)  The  supplications  of  new-born  souls,  grateful  for 
the  boon  which  they  have  received.  How  easily  and  how  speedily 
might  the  churches  of  America,  with  these  conditions  of  strength 
available  for  them,  transform  our  national  life  ! 

Thus  have  the  Prudential  Committee  endeavored  to  set  forth 
the  claims  of  China  as  a missionary  field,  first,  upon  Protestant 
Christians  everywhere  ; secondly,  and  preeminently,  upon  Protest- 
ant Christians  in  America.  But  they  must  go  still  further,  and  say 
that  upon  the  churches  which  are  represented  ly  this  Board,  there 
rests  a special  obligation.  God  has  been  pleased  to  give  us  a 
wider  experience,  a larger  income,  and  a stronger  working  force 
than  any  other  society  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  It  becomes  us, 
therefore,  to  accept  the  position  which  He  has  assigned  us,  humbly 
and  trustfully,  and  to  ask  that  grace  may  be  given  us  to  do  all  His 
will.  With  no  rivalries,  except  such  as  would  fain  achieve  the 
most  for  the  Master’s  honor,  let  us  go  boldly  forward,  inviting  our 
brethren  of  every  name  to  stand  by  our  side  in  that  supreme  con- 
flict which  is  soon  to  be  joined  with  the  powers  of  darkness. 

This  paper  was  referred  to  a special  Committee,  who  presented 
a report,  of  which  the  following  is  part:  — 

The  character  of  the  Chinese  people  gives  special  interest  to  their 
claims.  A barbarous  people  needs  the  gospel  as  much  as  those  who 
are  civilized.  It  is  adapted  to  them.  But  we  cannot  help  turning 
with  deep  sympathy  and  strong  hope  to  a land  where  intellect  is 
working  in  the  established  forms  of  political  and  educational  organ- 
izations, yet  destitute  of  Christianity.  It  is  not  our  first  work  there 
to  “teach  the  people  to  think.’’  There  is  a mental  capacity  in  large 
portions  of  the  people,  developed  and  applied  both  in  literature  and 
the  arts.  This  civilization  is  indeed  “ heathen,”  but  it  is  ready  for 


8 


SOCIAL  CONDITION. 


the  infusion  of  Christianity  to  purify  and  direct  its  forces  in  a sound 
religious  culture,  so  that  tliis  empire  may  become  a mighty  power 
for  the  maintenance  and  propagation  of  the  gospel.  The  Commit- 
tee recommend  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolution;  — 

Resolved,  That  this  Board,  with  reliance  on  God,  does  now  accept 
the  work  which  Providence  throws  upon  it  for  the  evangelization  of 
China ; and  assured  of  the  abundant  ability  of  the  churches,  and  of 
the  favorable  response  of  devoted  young  men  in  our  Theological 
Seminaries  to  the  appeal  that  shall  be  made  to  them,  do  recommend 
a speedy  enlargement  of  the  missionary  force  in  that  empire. 

The  resolution  was  unanimously  • adopted ; the  congregation 
also,  by  rising,  unanimously  assenting  to  the  vote. 

SOCIAL  CONDITION. 

BY  REV.  J.  L.  NEVIUS. 

At  the  request  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  American  Board,  Rev. 
Mr.  Nevius,  Missionary  of  the  Presbyterian  Board,  from  China,  has 
' kindly  furnished  the  following  summary  of  his  address  on  the  same 
occasion : — 

The  Chinese  empire  bears  a strong  resemblance  in  many  re- 
spects to  our  own  country.  It  occupies  nearly  the  same  position 
in  the  Eastern  Hemisphere  that  the  United  States  does  in  the 
Western.  It  comprises  very  nearly  the  same  degrees  of  latitude, 
and  has  the  same  varieties  of  climate  and  productions.  The  area 
of  the  whole  empire,  including  Chinese  Tartary,  is  greater  than 
that  of  the  United  States,  including  the  lately  acquired  Russian 
possessions.  China  proper,  sometimes  called  “ The  Eighteen 
Provinces,”  contains  an  area  about  equal  to  the  present  organized 
States  of  the  American  Union.  While  the  empire  is  divided  into 
provinces,  as  our  country  is  into  States,  so  eaeh  of  these  prov- 
inces is  divided  into  Fu  and  Hien,  as  our  States  are  into  counties 
and  townships. 

Each  of  these  divisions  has  its  corresponding  city.  These  cities 
are  all  surrounded  by  walls  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  or  more 
feet  in  height,  with  an  outer  face  of  solid  masonry,  either  hewn 
stone  or  brick.  The  circumference  of  these  walls  varies  from 
three  to  fifteen  English  miles.  The  provincial  capitals  contain  on 
an  average  about  a million  of  inhabitants  eaeh;  the  Fu  cities,  or 
those  of  the  second  class,  are  considerably  smaller ; while  the 
cities  of  the  third  class  contain  generally  a few  tens  of  thousands. 


SOCIAL  CONDITION. 


All  the  names  found  on  our  largest  maps  of  China  are  the  names 
of  these  walled  cities.  I'hese  cities  alone,  which  number  in  the 
aggregate  more  than  one  thousand  seven  hundred,  contain  a 
population  of  not  less  than  sixty  millions. 

But  the  great  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  of  China  are  to  be 
found  in  almost  innumerable  unwalled  towns,  villages,  and  ham- 
lets which  everywhere  dot  its  fertile  plains.  Every  thing  you  see 
strengthens  the  impression  of  the  immense  population.  The  ca- 
nals are  full  of  boats ; the  fields  of  laborers ; the  roads  and  by- 
paths are  filled  with  pedestrians,  and  in  some  parts  of  the  empire 
with  pack-mules  and  donkeys;  the  streets  resound  with  the  noises 
of  a great  variety  of  busy  artisans,  and  you  are  hardly  ever  out 
of  sight  of  the  graves  of  the  dead  of  past  generations.  How 
many  millions  of  the  past  have  gone  down  to  fill  idolaters’  graves 
without  any  knowledge  of  Christ  and  his  salvation  1 

There  are  now  living  in  the  empire  at  least  four  hundred  mill- 
ions of  Chinese,  a population  about  equal  to  that  of  all  the  nations 
of  Europe  and  North  and  South  America  combined.  They  are 
our  contemporaries,  looking  to  us  for  the  gospel ; we  must  soon 
pass  into  eternity  together  and  meet  them  at  the  bar  of  God.  It 
is  for  us  to  say  whether  they  too  shall  perish,  without  any  united 
and  earnest  efforts  on  our  part  for  their  salvation. 

This  vast  population,  isolated  by  its  position  from  the  rest  of  the 
world,  has  developed  a civilization  peculiarly  its  own.  They  have 
a language  embracing  in  all  about  forty  thousand  arbitrary  signs 
or  characters ; an  authentic  history  which  dates  back  more  than 
three  thousand  yeai’s ; and  a very  extensive  literature  embracing 
a great  variety  of  subjects.  They  have  in  active  operation  be- 
nevolent societies  and  institutions  of  different  kinds;  and  have 
the  lead  of  Western  nations  in  the  knowledge  of  some  of  the 
practical  arts  and  sciences. 

There  is  certainly  something  remarkable  in  the  culture  and  in- 
stitutions of  such  a people,  and  in  a government  which  for  .so  many 
centuries  could  bind  them  together  in  one  commonwealth.  The 
character  of  the  government  and  of  the  people  is  due,  more  than 
to  any  other  cause,  to  the  teachings  of  the  great  sage,  Confucius, 
who  lived  about  five  hundred  years  before  Christ.  He  professed 
to  have  derived  his  system  of  truth  from  the  sages  who  preceded 
him ; and  regarded  it  as  his  special  mission  to  preserve  from  ob- 
livion and  to  hand  down  to  posterity  their  works.  We  may  gain 
a general  idea  of  his  system  from  the  “ Five  Relations  ” and  “ Five 


SOCIAL  CONDITIOX. 


. 10 

Virtues,”  wliich  be  made  the  basis  of  it.  The  first  of  the  “ Five 
Relations  ” is  that  between  the  Emperor  and  his  officers,  which 
developed  gives  their  system  of  government  and  political  econ- 
omy. Then  follow  the  relations  between  father  and  son  ; husband 
and  wife ; brothers  and  friends.  It  will  be  observed  that  while 
these  heads  cover  the  whole  sphere  of  human  relations  or  duties, 
our  relation  to  God  is  entirely  ignored.  The  Five  Virtues  are 
Love,  Righteousness,  Propriety,  Knowledge,  and  Faith.  As  in 
the  Christian  system,  love  stands  in  the  first  place.  Confucius’ 
concejAion  of  this  virtue  was  very  high,  so  much  so,  that  he 
would  hardly  acknowledge  of  any  that  they  had  attained  it. 
When  asked  to  define  his  idea  of  it,  he  replied,  “ Do  not  unto 
others  what  you  would  not  have  others  do  unto  you,”  presenting 
the  nearest  aj)proximation  to  the  Golden  Rule  ” which  has  ever 
been  made  by  any  uninspired  teacher. 

But  notwithstanding  all  this  culture  and  civilization,  the  spirit- 
ual destitution  of  the  Chinese  is  not  e.xceeded  by  that  of  any  other 
nation  in  the  world.  They  present  a striking  illustration  of  the 
truth  that  “the  world  by  wisdom  knew  not  God;”  and  that  a 
nation  may  go  on  improving  in  intellectual  and  social  culture  and 
in  a knowledge  of  the  arts  and  sciences,  and  be  all  the  while  going 
farther  and  farther  away  from  God.  It  is  almost  impossible,  with- 
out a great  deal  of  explanation  and  illustration,  to  communicate 
a knowledge  of  Christianity  through  the  medium  of  the  Chinese 
language.  Having  no  correct  religious  ideas,  they  have  no  words 
to  express  them.  Idolatry  has  preoccupied  the  minds  of  the 
people,  and  the  whole  empire  is  full  of  heathen  temples  and  idol 
shrines. 

This  remarkable  people,  which  has  long  adopted  an  exclusive 
policy,  and  would  have  preferi’ed  to  continue  isolated  from  the 
rest  of  the  world,  has  been  forced  to  open  its  doors  to  foreign  in- 
tercourse. God  made  use  of  the  military  power  of  England  and 
France  to  effect  this  end. 

While  the  whole  empire  is  opened  to  the  free  proclamation  of 
the  gospel,  and  religious  toleration  is  guaranteed  in  e.xpress  terms 
by  the  last  treaty  with  China,  different  agencies  are  also  con- 
spiring in  God’s  providence  to  open  the  way  for  the  spread  of  the 
gospel,  humbling  national  pride,  undermining  old  systems,  and 
directing  the  thoughts  of  the  people  into  new  channels.  These 
agencies  are  foreign  and  civil  wars,  foreign  commerce,  and  foreign 
arts  and  sciences. 

While  God  is  working  on  such  a large  scale  and  making  use 


OPENINGS  AND  CALLS  FOR  MEN. 


11 


of  such  mighty  agencies,  he  calls  upon  the  church  to  perform  her 
part,  and  every  individual  Christian,  as  co-laborers  with  him  in 
the  regeneration  of  the  world.  The  work  assigned  to  us  is  the 
most  noble  and  inspiring,  that  of  casting  in  the  good  seed  of  the 
kingdom.  Shall  the  gracious  purposes  of  God  fail  of  their  grand 
fulfillment  from  our  backwardness  in  performing  our  function,  and 
doing  our  duty  ? This  work  must  be  done  now.  God  has 
brought  heathen  China  to  our  very  doors.  This  is  the  church’s 
opportunity,  the  time  of  our  visitation.  The  Romanists  are  fast 
occupying  the  field.  The  propagators  of  their  faith,  and  their 
converts,  outnumber  ours  almost  a hundred  fold.  If  we  would 
save  ourselves  from  the  displeasure  of  God  and  his  just  judgments, 
we  must  enter  upon  this  work  with  a zeal  and  energy  in  some 
degree  commensurate  with  the  urgent  claims  of  China,  and  the 
loud  call  of  God’s  providence.  We  must  “come  up  to  the  help 
of  the  Lord,  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty.” 

OPENINGS  FOR  CHRISTIAN  EFFORT. 

From  (he  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  for  1867. 

Letters  from  brethren  in  this  field  often  refer  to  tours  in 
which  they  find  the  field  open  and  the  people  ready  to  receive 
Christian  books  and  to  listen  to  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  and 
to  the  need  of  laborers  to  enter  open  doors.  Mr.  Chapin  wrote 
from  Tientsin,  in  December,  1866  : “ Rev.  Mr.  Lees,  of  the  Lon- 
don Mission  at  that  place,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Williamson,  agent  of  the 
Scotch  National  Bible  Society  for  North  China,  have  just  made  a 
tour  into  the  interior,  probably  the  longest  ever  made  by  Protest- 
ant missionaries  in  China.  They  traveled  between  2,000  and 
3,000  miles,  their  course  lying  through  the  four  provinces  of  Chile, 
Shansi,  Shensi,  and  Honan.  Everywhere  they  found  an  open 
door  for  preaching,  and  for  the  sale  of  Christian  books.  More 
than  20,000  small  books,  about  one  third  of  which  were  Testa- 
ments or  portions  of  Scripture,  were  thus  disposed  of.  Multitudes 
met  them,  and  hung  with  eagerness  upon  their  words  wherever 
they  went.  We  have  all  had  similar  experiences,  though  on  a 
smaller  scale.  I myself  was  absent  from  home  fifteen  days  in  the 
spring.  During  this  time  I visited  ten  cities,  besides  a great  num- 
ber of  villages,  preaching  sometimes  to  audiences  of  2,000  or  3,000 
at  a single  place,  and  selling  about  2,500  books,  large  and  small. 
Everywhere  the  country  seems  ojjen  for  missionary  effort.” 

In  February,  Mr.  Blodget  referred  to  Mr.  Wylie,  the  agent  of 


12 


OPEXIXGS  AND  CALLS  FOR  JIEN. 


the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  as  having  reached  Peking 
by  an  overland  journey  from  Nankin,  and  remarks : “ In  his  tours 
for  the  sale  of  Bibles,  he  has  visited  almost  every  open  port,  and 
traveled  very  extensively  in  the  interior.  His  testimony  confirms 
the  statement  so  often  made,  that  except  in  those  parts  where  po- 
litical disturbances  exist,  China  is  everywhere  open  to  missionary 
labor.  He  has  sold  many  tens  of  thousands  of  copies  of  the  New 
Testament,  and  is  still  engaged  in  this  work.  It  is  a happy  cir- 
cumstance, and  one  which  should  occasion  devout  gratitude  to 
God,  that  the  first  book  heathen  China  receives  from  the  Chris- 
tian nations  in  the  west  is  the  Bible.”  Noticing  in  another  letter 
a journey  by  himself  to  and  from  Kalgan,  Mr.  Blodget  makes 
some  statements  which  seem  to  indicate  the  safety  of  such  jour- 
neyings  now  in  the  interior  of  the  empire.  On  his  return,  he 
went  to  Yu  Cheu,  a city  ninety  miles  southwest  of  Kalgan,  where 
he  baptized  the  aged  parents  of  a church  member  who  was  with 
him,  and  remained  eight  days  laboring  among  the  people.  From 
this  place  he  passed  to  I-Cheu,  a distance  of  120  miles,  through  a 
region  “ so  rugged,  barren  and  mountainous,  that  few,  even  of  the 
Chinese,  can  obtain  a livelihood,”  and  over  a road  “ impassable 
for  carts,  but  much  traveled  by  mules.”  In  this  wild  region  “ I 
was,”  he  states,  “ quite  alone,  among  strangers,  sleeping  upon  the 
same  brick  bed  with  Chinese  travelers  and  innkeepers,  yet  as  safe, 
for  aught  I know,  as  if  walking  the  streets  of  my  native  village.” 
From  I-Cheu,  two  days’  ride  brought  him  to  his  home  at  Peking. 

In  several  letters  received  during  the  year,  Mr.  Blodget  has 
strongly  urged  the  policy  of  pushing  out  into  the  interior,  taking 
stations  and  out-stations  in  various  places  far  removed  from  the 
present  mission  centres,  and  thus  forming  new  centres  of  light  and 
influence.  He  refers  to  several  missions  of  different  societies  as 
now  adopting  this  policy  more  than  heretofore,  notices  places  which 
might  well  be  occupied  at  once,  and  says,  “ the  country  is  all  open, 
the  climate  in  Northern  China  is  very  healthful,  and  the  people 
are  kind  and  accessible.”  In  view  of  such  openings  and  such 
plans,  the  brethren  reiterate  their  calls  for  more  laborers  in  the 
great  China  field.  Mr.  Stanley,  after  mentioning  that  a room  had 
been  secured  for  mission  purposes  at  Lang-Liu-Ching,  and  ex- 
pressing the  hope  that  that  might  become  one  of  a series  of  out- 
stations  extending  inland,  adds  : “ But,  oh  ! we  need  more  preach- 
ing missionaries.  How  much  we  need  them  our  young  men  pre- 
paring for  the  ministry  do  not  realize,  I am  sure,  or  there  w’ould 
be  more  candidates  for  the  foreign  field.”  Mr.  Chapin,  after 


CHANGES  IN  CHINA. 


13 


noticing  tours  and  the  open  field,  as  in  extracts  already  given 
from  his  letters,  says : “ Would  that  we  had  a hundred  men,  full 
of  faith  and  zeal  and  love,  to  preach  Christ  to  the  countless  multi- 
tudes who  fill  up  this  great  plain  of  Northern  China Where 

is  then  such  a field  as  here  for  the  services  of  the  loyal,  devoted 
servants  of  Christ,  who  would  leave  a name  and  an  influence  be- 
hind them  when  they  die  ? Our  work  is  here  in  the  very  midst 
of  the  great  jcean  of  humanity,  and  our  words  and  lives  may  tell 
upon  multitudes  now,  and  far  greater  multitudes  after  we  have 
ceased  to  live  and  toil  for  Christ  upon  earth.  I wonder  that  the 
hearts  of  the  enterprising  and  pious  youth  of  our  country  are  not 
so  stirred  up  in  view  of  the  glorious  service  set  before  them,  as  to 
lead  thousands  to  present  themselves  to  the  Board,  and  beg  to  be 
sent  forth  on  this  holy,  joyous  mission.”  Mr.  Goodrich  also,  ex- 
pressing his  surprise  that  there  are  not  more  men  ready,  exclaims  : 

“ Alas,  alas ! more  than  eighteen  hundred  years  have  passed 
away  since  our  Lord  ascended  up  on  high,  and  forty  years  since 
China  was  opened  to  the  gospel,  and  now  for  400,000,000  of  men 
the  church  has  but  little  more  than  one  hundred  missionaries  in 
the  field.  The  fields  are  white  for  the  harvest,  but  the  laborers 
are  few.” 


CHANGES  IN  CHINA. 

BY  HON.  S.  WELLS  WILLIAMS. 

• 

As  a fitting  addition  to  these  statements  in  regard  to  openings 
and  calls  to  Christian  effort  in  China,  an  extract  will  be  given 
from  a letter  of  December  last,  addressed  to  Dr.  Anderson  by 
Hon.  S.  Wells  Williams,  LL.D.,  long  connected  with  the  mis- 
sion of  the  Board  at  Canton,  and  now  Secretary  to  the  United 
States  Legation  at  Peking.  After  noticing  the  state  of  things 
when  he  first  went  to  Canton  in  1833  — when  China  had  “no 
sympathy,  no  knowledge,  no  influence  with  other  nations ; ” when 
Christian  missions  there  were  “ regarded  as  directed  more  to  for- 
eigners living  there  than  to  the  natives,”  so  few  were  the  op- 
portunities of  access  to  them ; and  when  “ an  attempt  made  to 
print  tracts  and  gospels  on  blocks  resulted  so  disastrously  to  the 
natives  employed  that  thirteen  years  passed  before  another  like 
attempt  was  made,”  “ he  goes  on  to  say  : — 

“ When  I now  look  back  upon  those  times,  I see  how  wisely  po- 
litical events  were  ordered  for  the  good  of  this  nation,  gradually 
preparing  it  for  a better  understanding  of  its  own  rights  and  po- 


14 


CHANGES  IN  CHINA. 


sition,  and  loosening  the  restrictions  of  ages  by  degrees ; and  I 
cannot  doubt  that  God  has  great  things  for  so  large  a part  of  the 
race  yet  to  do. 

*•  The  East  India  Company  was  an  incubus  on  all  philanthropic 
efforts  in  China,  and  it  was  removed ; then  the  hong-merchants 
and  their  restrictions  were  swept  away  by  the  treaty  of  Nanking, 
which  opened  avenues  into  the  country,  and  established  mission- 
aries, simultaneously  with  merchants,  at  all  of  them.  Another 
step  was  taken  in  advance  some  twelve  years  after,  foreign  repre- 
sentatives placed  in  Peking,  and  the  whole  country-  thrown  open 
to  travel  and  missions. 

“ The  result  of  missionary  effort  during  the  34  years  past,  has 
been  only  a first  sheaf.  I am  sure,  of  what  the  next  34  years  of  this 
century  will  exhibit.  But  it  is  much,  nevertheless.  The  three  or 
four  then  in  Canton  have  been  multiplied  to  over  four  hundred 
missionaries,  besides  females,  more  than  a hundred  of  whom  arc 
still  in  China,  working  directly  upon  the  mass  of  ignorance  around 
them  in  more  than  twenty  cities,  with  many  out-stations  besides. 
The  single  upper  room  in  a hong  in  Canton,  where  the  Chinese 
service  of  Dr.  Morrison  was  held,  has  expanded  to  scores  of 
churches,  chapels,  schools,  and  hospitals,  in  all  of  which  the  truth 
is  made  known  continually.  The  converts  are  few  indeed  com- 
pared with  the  crowds  of  their  pagan  countrv-mcn  ; yet  the  three 
thousand  and  more  which  are  numbered  on  the  mission  records 
give  their  witness  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  jftxjphecy,  ‘ These  from 
the  land  of  Sinim.’  One,  two,  yes  three  of  these  have  testified 
with  their  lives  or  imprisonment  to  the  truth  and  value  of  the 
principles  they  have  professed. 

“ In  printing  and  disseminating  Scriptures  and  religious  books, 
the  advance  has  kept  pace  with  other  branches  of  work ; so  that 
instead  of  stealthily  bringing  in  a copy  of  the  Bible  at  Canton, 
secreted  in  the  bottom  of  a trunk,  thousands  of  copies  are  sent 
from  the  printing-offices  in  Shanghai,  printed  in  four  different 
sizes  of  metallic  type,  to  all  stations,  where  this  inadequate  supply 
is  supplemented  by  as  many  others  struck  from  blocks.  These 
have  been  carried  through  the  large  towns  of  northern  China, 
and  publicly  sold  by  foreigners  in  their  streets,  from  Shantung  to 
Shensi,  and  Kalgan  to  Kaifung,  — all  the  country  north  of  the 
Yellow  River,  a region  nearly  as  large  as  all  the  Atlantic  and 
Gulf  States.  Newspapers,  too,  are  beginning  to  supply  the  peo- 
ple with  other  kinds  of  information,  and  the  Imperial  Government 
has  just  informed  the  foreign  ministers  that  it  has  no  desire  to  pre- 


MISSIONARY  STATISTICS. 


15 


vent  the  discussion  of  any  subject  of  public  interest  relating  to 
China  in  their  pages. 

“ These  few  comparisons  of  what  existed  when  I came  to  China, 
a young  man,  and  what  I am  now  permitted  to  see,  show  that  God 
has  truly  begun  to  open  the  way  for  his  gospel  among  the  Chinese. 
The  work  to  be  done  is  so  great,  however,  that  all  the  advance 
seems  almost  as  nothing  when  we  reflect  upon  the  ignorance  and 
idolatry  which  still  exist;  the  agents  at  work,  and  their  powers  and 
plans,  seem  utterly  inadequate  to  compass  and  throw  down  the 
walls  of  this  seat  of  Satan.  I hope  none  of  the  host  is  disposed 
to  doubt  the  success  of  Christ’s  cause  because  such  is  the  case.” 

MISSIONARY  STATISTICS. 

The  following  statistics  are  taken  from  a Missionary  Directory, 
published  at  Foochow,  China,  July  1866  : — 


Ordained  missionaries  in  China, 97 

Lay  missionaries, 14 

Female  missionaries, 93 

Whole  number,  male  and  female, 204 

Number  of  native  helpers, 206 

Church  members  received  in  186.5, 282 

Whole  number  of  native  church  members, . . . . 3142 


Of  the  ordained  missionaries,  forty-three  were  connected  with 
American  Societies ; forty-four  with  English  ; eight  with  German ; 
and  two  were  independent.  Several  new  missionaries  have  gone 
out  during  the  year,  so  that  the  present  number  on  the  ground  is 
probably  not  far  from  one  hundred,  one  to  four  millions,  or  nine 
for  a population  as  large  as  that  of  the  United  States  ! 

The  American  Board  now  (Nov.  1867)  has  eleven  missionaries, 
one  missionary  physician,  and  two  female  teachers,  connected  with 
five  missionary  stations  in  China. 

OUR  WORK. 

In  the  providence  of  God  this  field  seems  to  have  been  assigned 
to  the  Christian  church  of  this  land,  as  its  part  in  the  great  work 
of  evangelization.  Protestant  Germany  has  its  work  largely  on 
the  continent,  though  individual  communities  have  done  and  are 
doing  a noble  work  abroad.  India  belongs  rather  to  England,  to 
which  it  is  bound  by  political  as  well  as  commercial  ties  ; Africa 
and  China  rather  to  the  United  States ; Africa  to  the  Christian 
freedmen  of  the  South,  held  in  reserve,  as  it  were,  till  they  shall 
be  ready  for  it;  and  China  to  the  Christian  churches  of  the  North. 


16 


OUll  WOKK. 


Upon  the  present  method  of  conducting  missions,  two  thousand 
men,  and  a thousand  female  teachers  are  needed  for  the  evangel- 
ization of  China.  It  is  believed  that  other  ilissionary  Societies 
will  generously  share  this  w ork  with  us ; and  that  the  American 
Board  will  not  have  the  opportunity  of  doing  more  than  one  half 
of  it.  Will  the  churches  who  act  through  the  Board  at  once 
earnestly  and  as  in  the  sight  of  God  undertake  the  half,  to  fur- 
nish one  thousand  men,  and  five  hundred  female  teachers  for  the 
work.  Such  a force  put  into  the  field  within  the  next  ten  years, 
judging  by  the  results  in  other  fields  during  the  last  twenty,  might 
hope  to  secure  the  triumph  of  the  gospel  in  China  by  the  close  of 
the  century  ! Is  it  not  a work  worthy  of  the  Christians  of  Amer- 
ica, a fitting  thank-oifering  to  God  for  the  spiritual  blessings  we 
enjoy  V 

We  want  a regiment  of  the  Lord  — a thousand  men  — one 
man  from  every  five  churches,  large  and  small,  represented  in  the 
Board,  one  man  for  every  four  hundred  members  in  our  churches. 
Is  it  impossible  to  secure  them,  impossible  to  raise  a thousand  men 
for  the  grandest  work  ever  undertaken  by  the  church,  a work  so 
in  keeping  with  the  indications  of  Divine  Providence,  so  in  keep- 
ing with  the  spirit  of  our  Lord,  and  so  sure  of  his  sympathy  and 
blessing  ? Impossible  for  American  Christians  f The  past  six 
years  have  changed  the  meaning  of  the  word. 

To  carry  on  the  work  on  the  scale  proposed  will  require  S2,000,- 
000  a year  — less  than  our  late  war  cost  for  a single  day  — not 
one  fourth  as  much  as  we  gave  annually  to  the  Sanitary  and 
Christian  Commissions.  Is  it  impossible  to  raise  32,000,000  a yeau* 
to  evangelize  a third  of  the  human  race,  to  extend  the  blessings 
of  the  gospel  and  a Christian  civilization,  among  a people  ten 
times  as  numerous  as  our  own  — to  save  them  for  time  and  eter- 
nity ? Can  not  an  average  contribution  of  five  dollars  each  be 
raised  from  the  professed  followers  of  Christ  in  our  churches,  for 
such  an  object  ? 

Let  us  deny  ourselves  but  a trifle  of  our  expenditures  for  what 
is  too  often  of  no  real  advantage  to  us,  and  the  work  is  done. 
Let  parents  consecrate  their  sons  and  daughtei’s ; let  the  young 
men  in  our  colleges  and  seminaries  organize  Chinese  bands ; let 
ministers  preach  it,  and  the  friends  of  Christ  remember  it  in  every 
circle  of  prayer,  as  the  o/ie  great  work  of  the  age ; then  shall  the 
Christian  church  arise  and  shine,  the  glory  of  the  Lord  being 
risen  upon  her,  and  China  shall  rejoice  in  a Saviour’s  love. 


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